~ Inspiration ~

I went to the beach over the weekend.

I walked on the Sand.

I inhaled the Surf.

I gazed at the Sky.

Then I came home and gathered together this pile of nautical goodness.

I'm sewing my brains out while still high on that ocean inspiration.

How about you?  What inspired you this weekend?

~ Pink Sand Beaches ~

In honor of the Month O' Pink ... I offer up some pink quilts. This one is part of my Sea Quilt series, which means it involves The Sea and more than likely, it also involves ... Dots.

This one was started in 2009 and finished in 2011. That's rare for me, but a lot of life and one great big move accounts for that year in between.

The borders and the back (seen here) were primarily from a Moda line of fabric by Three Sisters. If you are a quilter, you probably recognize that.

I don't often put angst into the backing, but I tried to lay this one out so that my quilting of the shells ...

... matched the blocks on the back.

This quilt was made in early 2009 and I call it "Sum Sum Summertime". The houses are paper-pieced. I sure do love paper piecing.

I had been wanting to learn to do a scalloped border for this one, but that piece of schooling never happened. So I made what I like to call a "fake" scalloped border, which actually tickles me pink ... and yellow. Both of these quilts are my own design.

Speaking of moves (and houses) ... today is my one year birthday of the day I moved into this house.

Happy Birthday to Me & My House!

My sailboat quilt was featured over at The Charm of Home!  Is that, not, so charming?

Linking to:
Open House Thursdays
Wow Us Wednesdays
Home Sweet Home

~ Just Dotty ~

My love of dots dates back to my childhood ... and that is a lot of dating, if you get my drift. I saw this picture in Better Homes & Gardens and immediately added it to the "file". I love the contrast of the different colors ... and different sizes ... amid the dottiness. The fact that some checks and toile are thrown in the mix, just makes my heart skip a beat.

I love these blue dot pillows that breathe happiness into my guest room. Again ... the contrast with the calico is actually what pulls the formula together: Dots + PrettyMuchAnything = Happy.

And then there is "the stash". Percentage-wise, I have so many dots that I am pretty much obligated to put some in (almost) every quilt that I sew.

I try to live up to my obligations as an upstanding citizen.

How about you? What pattern consistently makes you sigh?

~ Glassy-Eyed ~

Sometimes ... whether I am thirsty or not (for water, milk or Diet Dr. Pepper) ... I just like to open my cupboard where I keep my glasses. I marvel at the dots. I do love dots. I got them at IKEA. I've noticed that IKEA likes dots too.

I am also very fond of these taller glasses that are particularly narrow. I got these at Home Goods. Home Goods likes to sell you things in quantity, and that's just how I bought them. Two packages of ten. I have yet to need more that that at one sitting. I tried to locate the dots for you, but alas, they have gone their way of the wrapping paper. (Did you know that IKEA doesn't sell wrapping paper anymore? What is with that? )

I am very fond of these 'wave' glasses here which are begging to have some orange juice in them. Or some Diet Dr. Pepper.

Sorry about the dots.